10 Renegade Parenting Rules

Let Them Hit and Kick

If your child’s angry and needs to hit, let him! Don’t stop the action—redirect it. Provide a safe target like a pillow, and let him get his feelings out. Sometimes that burst of energy has to explode before he can calm down. Young kids express their feelings with their bodies. Tell your child “You can’t kick your brother, but you can kick this cardboard box.” A safe target reinforces that people aren’t for hurting.